Part 34 (1/2)

”My lord,” returned dick, with a faint sense that he was in the presence of a great personage, ”ye are yourself so ed thele-handed Howbeit, it was certainly well for er than they did”

”Hoho I was?” deer

”Even now, norant of whom I speak with”

”Is it so?” asked the other ”And yet ye threw yourself head first into this unequal battle”

”I saw one ainst ht ular sneer played about the young nobleman's mouth as he made answer:

”These are very brave words But to the more essential--are ye Lancaster or York?”

”My lord, I make no secret; I am clear for York,” dick answered

”By the mass!” replied the other, ”it is well for you”

And so saying, he turned towards one of his followers

”Letand cruel tones--”let entlemen Truss me the party Archers seized them by the arms; they were hurried to the borders of the wood, and each placed below a tree of suitable di the end of it, hastily clambered overhead; and before aupon either hand, the fiveby the neck

”And now,” cried the deformed leader, ”back to your posts, and when I summon you next, be readier to attend”

”My lord duke,” said one man, ”beseech you, tarry not here alone Keep but a handful of lances at your hand”

”Fellow,” said the duke, ”I have forborne to chide you for your slowness

Cross me not, therefore I trust my hand and arm, for all that I be crooked Ye were backhen the trumpet sounded; and ye are now too forith your counsels But it is ever so; last with the lance and first with tongue Let it be reversed”

And with a gesture that was not without a sort of dangerous nobility, he waved theain to their seats behind the men-at-arms, and the whole party moved sloay and disappeared in twenty different directions, under the cover of the forest

The day was by this tili men, who now turned once more to face each other

”Here,” said the duke, ”ye have seen eance, which is, like my blade, both sharp and ready But I would not have you, for all Christendoood sword and a better courage--unless that ye recoil fro, the young leader held out his arms for an embrace

In the bottoreat terror and some hatred for the man whom he had rescued; but the invitation was so worded that it would not have been merely discourteous, but cruel, to refuse or hesitate; and he hastened to coained his freedoht? Are ye my Lord Duke of Gloucester?”

”I am Richard of Gloucester,” returned the other ”And you--how call they you?”

dick told hinet, which the duke inised